Container top



Jan. 18, 1938.

R. H. MERGENTHEIM CONTAINER TOP Filed Oct.. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l'WWI un Jan. 18, 1938. R. H. MERGENTHEIM 2,105,547

' CONTAINER TOP v Filed Oct. 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patentedl Jan.18,

iiNi'rED s'rArgs PATENT ori-ica CONTAINER 'roP anse n.Mergentheim'wmnetn, m. application october 1v, 1935, serial No. 45,425

This invention relates to improvements in containers and refersspecifically to containers for dry materials in which a reclosabledispensing opening is provided. y Y

5 The utility, objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and following detail description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a carton provided with theimprovements of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar vie'willustrating the closure tab in' upraisedposition.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing said tab in reclosed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton illustrating therelative positions of the iiaps comprising the carton top.

Fig. 6 is a development of the upper portion of the carton.

Fig. 'Z is a perspective view of the carton, illustrating the closure inreclosed position and held in place by the latch'- M Referring in detailto the drawings, I indicates a 'carton or box particularly adaptable`for containing such dry materials as coifee, tea, soap chips, scouringpowder, etc. The carton I may compriseside walls 2 and 3-and end walls 4and 3o 5, which when the carton is assembled are disposed .respectivelyopposite each other. The carton may also comprise a suitable bottom (notshown) and a top 6 which latter may comprise aps 1 and 8 continuationsrespectively of side Walls 2 and 3, and flaps 9 alnd I0 continuationsrespectively of end walls 4 and 5. When the carton I is assembled andthe top 6 closed, flaps 9 and I0 are folded to end abuttingrelationship; flap 8 is folded over ilaps 9 and I0 in superposedposition and'flap 1 is folded over iiap 8 in superposed relation. Therespective iiaps are then adhesivelyunited, as will be hereinafter morefully described.

Flap I0, comprising a continuation of end 5, comprising one of thelowermost aps when the top 6 isin'closed position may be provided withperforations II defining an area or tab I2 of substantially trapezoidalshape, one side of the trapezoid so formed comprising one edgeof theflap. 'I'he corresponding flap 9 opposite flap I0 is provided withperforations I3 comprising continuations of oppositeperforated lines Ii.' Adjacent the opposite perforated lines Il and adjacent theperforated lines I3, the aps I0 and 9 may be coated with paint orothermaterial I4 which resists the absorption of an adhesive. The lines ofperforation I IA and I3 are characterized in that they are readilyseverable. v

Flap 8, comprising a continuation of side 2 may be provided withperforated lines I5 and I6 and 5 perforated line I1, lines I5 and I6being characterized in that they are readily severable from the flap 8and line I1 characterized in that it is readily bendable but notnecessarily easily severable. Lines I5, I6 and I1 define a trapezoidal10 shaped tab IB. Flap 8 is also provided with perforations I9 whichjoin lines I6 at their4 juncture with line I6, lines I9 beingcharacterized in that they are readily severable from the body of ap 8.The areas 20 of ap 8 adjacent lines I5, I6 15 and I9 are coated with anadhesive resisting material similar to the material coating area I4.

Flap 1, comprising the continuation of side 2, is provided with lines ofperforation 2|, 22, 23 and 24, perforations 2l, 23 and 24 beingcharacterized in that they are readily severable and perforated, line 22being characterized in that it is readily bendable but not easilyseverable. Lines 2i, 22 and 23 dene a tab 25 and lines 24 join lines 2|at their juncture with the ends of line 23.

When the top 6 of carton I is initially closed, the entire uppersurfaces of flaps 9 and I0 are covered with .an adhesive such assilicate of soda or the like. However, said adhesive is not absorbed bythe areas I4. Flap 8 is folded over iiaps 9 and I0 and the lower surfaceof flap 8 adheres to the unpainted or uncoated portions of said loweriiaps. The upper surface of iiap 8 is then covered with adhesive andfiap'1 is united thereto 35 in superposed relation, the coated areas 20,of course, not adhering to the rear surface of iiap 1. When the aps arethus united, the tabs I2, I8 and 25, and lines of perforation definingsaid tabs are disposed relatively, as shown best in Fig. 1. 0

To gain access to the contentsvof carton I, the tongue 26 defined bylines 23 and 24 is pressed downwardly thereby severing lines 23 and 24.Simultaneously, tongue 21 is also depressed severing lines I6 and I9, asare also the lines I3 45 dening ythe tongue 28 in flap 9. Upon severingthese various lines, the tongues 26, 21 and 28 are depressed beneath thesurface of the lowermost ap I0 and the nger of the operator may beinserted beneath the edge of tab I2. An up- 50 ward thrust will causethe severance of lines II iniiap I0, lines Iiinfiap and lines 2linfiap 1. The three tabs I2, I8 and 25, adhesively united may then beraised,'utilizing lines I 1 and 22 as hinges.. Because of the greaterarcthrough which 55 thelowest tab I2 must swing, said tab will usuallybe completely severed from the body' of iiap e I0. In so raising thetabs access may be obtained to the interior of the carton and a portionr all of the contents thereof may be removed by pouring the sametherefrom or removing the same by means of a spoon or like utensil.

Many packaged materials when exposed to the air tend to lose theirquality. For instance, in the case of tea, spices or coffee,particularly ground coifee, exposure to the air results in loss of aromawhich, of course, is detrimental to the resultant flavor or strength ofthe material. It

is infrequent that when a package of such mate` moisture upon salt, soapchips, scouring powder,

cookies, etc., are notable examples.

Accordingly, as a feature of my invention, means is provided whereby thecomposite tab 29 may be effectively reclosed and maintained incomparative air-tight position. It will be noted that the tabs I2, i8and 25 are progressively larger in area in the order named and that thelower ply and to abut thereon, and a lower ply of withdrawn from underand to overlap the overlargest tab is at the top and the smallest at thebottom. This, of ,course, permits the raising of the composite tab 29from the top 6 but effectively prevents depressing of `said tab into theinterior `of the carton. In addition, it will be noted that no lines ofperforation connect the outer ends of the lines I3-i 3,

tongues 28, 2 and 26 respectively. Consequently, said tongues if flexedupwardly or downwardly possess a comparatively high degree ofresiliency: It will also be noted that the comparative lengths of tabsi8 and' 25 are 'such that tab 25 overhangs tab I 8 adjacent the tongues2-6 and 2, and that tongue 21 is longer than tongue 26. Therefore, if,upon lowering composite tab ,29 to the plane of the top 6, tongues 26and 2 are flexed upward'- ly to permit the end of tab 25 to pass beneathtongue 27, said latter tongue, assisted by the flexure of tongue 26 willserve to urge and retain the composite tab 29 in seated or closedposition. In

vother words, tongues 26 and 21 act as a resilient` latch holdingcomposite tab 29 in seated position and thereby preventing undueexposure of the contents of the carton to the air.

It is to be understood, of course, that I do not' wish to be limited tothe precise structure shown and described since my invention is broadlydirected to a carton or container top which is characterized inthat itcomprises more than one ply. Moreover, any tab size or shape is broadlycontemplated in my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An article of the class described which comprises in combination, acontainer having side walls, a bottom anda three-ply top, the pliescomprising said top being provided with lines of perforation defining atab swingable from the plane of the top, the plies comprising said topvbeing further provided with lines of perforation ldeiining tonguesadjacent an end of said tab, the upper ply of said .tab being offset tooverhang a I9-I9 or 24J-24, defininghanging ply of said tab to hold itin pressed relation against the abutment formed by the lower pliesthereof, and to maintain said tab inreclosed position upon said top.

v2. An article of the class described which comf prises in combination,a container having side walls, a bottom and a three-ply top, the pliescomprising said top being continuations of said side walls and providedwith lines of perforation projecting ply of said tongue being adapted tobe withdrawn from beneath and to overlap the overhanging ply of said tabto hold it in pressed relation against the abutment formed by the lowerplies thereof, and to maintain said tab in reclosed position upon saidtop.

3. An article of the class described whiohcomprises in combination, acontainer having `side walls, a bottom and a' three-ply top, the pliescomprising said top being provided with lines of perforation defining amulti-ply tab hingedly connected to the top and swingable from the planeof the top to denne an opening therein, the plies comprising said topbeing further provided with lines of perforation defining tongues inabutting relationship to the ends of said tab, the abutments of one plynot registering with the abutments of another ply the upper ply of saidtab being offset to overhang a lower ply and to abut thereon, and alower ply of said tongue being offset to project from beneath an upperply, said projecting ply of said tongue being adapted to be withdrawnfrom under and to overlap the overhanging ply of said tab to hold it inpressed relation against the abutment formed by thelower plies thereof,and to maintain said tab in reclosed position upon said top with the aidof the uppermost ply of said tongue.

4. An article of the class described which com- Y.

prises in combination, a container having side walls, a bottom and athree-ply top, said top comprising a plurality of flaps adhesivelyunited -together, said top being provided with lines of tongue, aperforation line being common to both tab and tongue in each ply instaggered relation to that of another ply, said tab being hingedlyconnected to the top proper and being swingable from the plane ofthe topto expose an opening in the top, an upper ply of said tab being onset tooverhang a lower ply thereof and to abut thereon, a lower ply of saidtongue being odset to project from beneath an upper ply, said projectingply of said tongue normally extending under the uppermost ply of saidtab and adapted to be withdrawn from thereunder to overlap theoverhanging ply of said tab and to be urged downwardly to its normalpiane bythe ply of theupper tongue to maintain said tab in reciosedposition. upon said top.

5. A container top comprising a plurality of plies of brous materialadhesively united to- @www 3 gether, each of said plies covering theentire area ofthe top, the plies comprising said top being provided withlines of perforation dening a tab swingable from the plane of the top,the plies comprising said top being further provided with lines ofperforationdeiining a. tongue abutting an end of said tab on each ply,the upperply of said tab being offset 'to overhang a. lower py and abutthereon, and a lower ply of said tongue being offset4 to project frombeneath an upper ply thereof and adapted to be maintained in its normalplanel thereby, said projecting ply of said tongue being adapted to haveits end withdrawn from under and to overlap the overhanglng ply of saidtab to maintain said tab in reclosed position upon said top with the aldof the uppermost ply of saldtongue.

